MELBOURNE, FL - What does Joy Sawyer do to celebrate her 101st birthday? She makes sure she's on time for her regular three-day-per-week aerobics class, of course!

That's right! Melbourne resident Joy Sawyer turned 101 years old today, and she just barely had enough time after her water aerobics class to celebrate with her classmates and with staff at Health First's Pro-Health & Fitness Center.

"What is my secret to long life," Joy was asked. "Well, I guess it's been eating my vegetables, and drinking lots of milk," she said. "Good genes probably help too."

Joy grew up on a farm in Opp, Alabama, which is a small town on the southern edge of the state which is only nine years older than Joy!

Today, to help Joy celebrate the day, a group of four-year-old children from the Health First Center for Child Development came over to sing happy birthday, while Joy was presented with a gift basket from Health First Pro-Health & Fitness.

"I would love for us to take all the credit for Joy's longevity, since she routinely works out here at Health First Pro-Health & Fitness several days each week," joked Steve Dietz, Director of Health First's Pro Health & Fitness. "But as good as our classes may be, the truth is Joy has been around a lot longer than we have been, so whatever she's doing, it seems to be working just fine for her."